Removable Cutting Tool Housing for Precise Food Slicer Changeover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting apparatuses face challenges in easily and safely installing or removing cutting tools, and achieving accurate positioning of these tools for cutting food products into slices, strips, or dices.
Innovation Solution
A cutting apparatus with a removable cutting tool housing and an auxiliary mounting system that facilitates easy installation and removal of cutting tools, featuring guide means for guiding the housing between use and predefined positions, and a fixing mechanism for precise positioning of the slice guide with respect to the slicing knife.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cutting tools are mounted directly on the cutting apparatus, then the structure is simple, but the installation and removal of cutting tools becomes difficult and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tool housing is separated from the main cutting apparatus, allowing the cutting tools to be mounted on a removable housing rather than directly on the apparatus. This segmentation enables easy removal and installation of the entire housing unit as a single component, solving the safety and ease of operation issues while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable cutting tool housing acts as an intermediary component between the cutting apparatus and the cutting tools. This intermediate element facilitates safe and easy handling, installation, and removal of cutting tools, while the guide means and fixing mechanism provide the necessary mounting functionality without requiring complex direct integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cutting tools are fixed in position, then positioning accuracy is high, but the ability to switch between different cutting configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tools are pre-positioned and fixed within the removable housing with high precision during housing assembly. This preliminary action ensures accurate positioning is achieved once the housing is installed, while the removable nature of the housing allows easy switching between different cutting configurations by simply removing and replacing the entire housing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic removable position. The guide means enables controlled movement of the housing along the guide surface, while the fixing mechanism provides secure locking in the operational position. This dynamic system allows both precise positioning during operation and easy reconfiguration when needed.
3Productivity
If cutting tools are easily removable, then maintenance and switching are faster, but positioning accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The manual positioning and alignment process is replaced by a guided mechanical system. The guide means with its defined guide surface and housing geometry automatically ensures correct positioning when the housing is installed, eliminating the need for manual alignment while maintaining high positioning accuracy. This mechanical guidance system works seamlessly with the easy-removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing and guide means are designed to automatically self-align and self-position during installation. The geometric relationship between the guide surface and housing features ensures that when the housing is placed on the guide means, it automatically assumes the correct position without requiring additional adjustment or measurement, thus maintaining precision while enabling fast installation.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
A cutting apparatus for cutting product into slices, strips or dices. The cutting apparatus comprises a feed drum wherein the product is moved towards a peripheral opening and a set of cutting tools mounted at the peripheral opening. The set of cutting tools comprises a slicing knife, a slice guide, and optionally a circular cutter and/or a cross cutter. At least a subset of the cutting tools is mounted on a removable cutting tool housing. The cutting apparatus further comprises an auxiliary mounting system for supporting the removable cutting tool housing upon installation on and removal from the cutting apparatus. The auxiliary mounting system comprises guide means which are provided for guiding the removable cutting tool housing between a first position and a second position, the first position being a use position wherein the housing is mounted adjacent the peripheral opening in the drum and the second position being a predefined position on the guide means wherein the housing is spaced from the drum and can be removed from the guide means.